| Hyperkalemic Paralysis with Unexplained Causes : A Case Report |
| Hyeong-Do Cho, M.D., Joo-Hark Yi, M.D., Young-Hoon Kim, M.D. Sang-Woong Han, M.D. and Ho-Jung Kim, M.D. |
| Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea |
| Hyperkalemic Paralysis with Unexplained Causes : A Case Report |
| Hyeong-Do Cho, M.D., Joo-Hark Yi, M.D., Young-Hoon Kim, M.D. Sang-Woong Han, M.D. and Ho-Jung Kim, M.D. |
| Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea |
|
|
| Abstract |
|
Hyperkalemic paralysis can be either a rare hereditary form due to channelopathies or common secondary ones related to various medications interfering potassium homeostasis upon underlying renal impairment. We hereby describe a 36-yr-old woman presented with the first episode of sudden hyperkalemic paralysis due to severe hyperkalemia, 8.6 mEq/L, but which resolved quickly to the normalization of serum potassium level by the conventional remedies, including calcium gluconate, insulin and glucose, and potassium-binding resin for severe hyperkalemia over 10 hours and remained normokalemic without any medications or dialysis for the next 10 days in hospital. The discernible history of medications or potassium-rich food intakes was denied on repeated interrogation. Other diagnostic work-ups to investigate its etiologies responsible for this acute hyperkalemic paralysis including neurological examination, serial biochemical data, and endocrinologic diagnostic work-ups for underlying causes failed, but only revealed only a transient hyperkalemic episode with appropriate response of renal potassium excretion. Therefore, we report a puzzling case of hyperkalemia with unexplained causes in a young woman, though the evidences are in favor of acute intracellular potassium shift based on the short duration of reversible hyperkalemia with intact response of increased renal potassium excretion. |
| Key Words:
Hyperkalemia, Paralysis, Potassium, Homeostasis |
|
PDF Links
Download Citation
